Frederick Douglass

Social Reformer, Writer

Frederick Douglass was a prominent abolitionist and writer, known for his powerful speeches and writings advocating for freedom and equality.

Born
February 14, 1818
Died
February 20, 1895
Quotes
232
Rank
#447

Quote collection

Frederick Douglass quotes (page 2 of 12)

232 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"This struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, and it may be both moral and physical, but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"Without culture there can be no growth; without exertion, no acquisition; without friction, no polish; without labor, no knowledge; without action, no progress; and without conflict, no victory. The man who lies down a fool at night, hoping that he will waken wise in the morning, will rise up in the morning as he laid down in the evening."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"People might not get all they work for in this world, but they must certainly work for all they get."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"I am a Republican, a black, dyed in the wool Republican, and I never intend to belong to any other party than the party of freedom and progress."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. The feeling in the nation must be quickened, the conscience of the nation must be roused, the propriety of the nation must be startled, the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed: and its crimes against God and man must be denounced."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"In life you don't get everything you pay for, but you must pay for everything you get."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"Mr. Lincoln was not only a great President, but a great man - too great to be small in anything. In his company I was never in any way reminded of my humble origin, or of my unpopular color."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, . . . neither persons nor property will be safe."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"Educate your sons and daughters, send them to school, and show them that beside the cartridge box, the ballot box, and the jury box, you also have the knowledge box."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"There is a class of people who seem to think that if a man should fall overboard into the sea with a Bible in his pocket it would hardly be possible to drown. I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"I will unite with anyone to do good, but with no one to do harm."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"If we would reach a degree of civilization higher and grander than any yet attained, we should welcome to our ample continent all the nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples, and as fast as they learn our language and comprehend the duties of citizenship, we should incorporate them into the American body politic. The outspread wings of the American eagle are broad enough to shelter all who are likely to come."

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"One by one I have seen obstacles removed, errors corrected, prejudices softened, proscriptions relinquished, and my people advancing in all the elements that go to make up the sum of the general welfare. And I remember that God reigns in eternity, and that whatever delays, whatever disappointments and discouragements may come, truth, justice, liberty and humanity will ultimately prevail."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"I know of no rights of race superior to the rights of humanity..."

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Frederick Douglass Social Reformer, Writer
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"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion."

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